Club Tijuana’s road woes in the Liga MX continued on Friday as Xolos fell 3-2 to Santos Laguna in Torreon to extend their road winless streak to 18 games.

Santos tallied twice in the first half with a penalty kick finish from Juan Rodriguez in the 14th minute and a Mauro Cejas tally seven minutes later. The Xoloitzcuintles cut the deficit in half in the 24th minute as Cristian Pellerano buried a close-range attempt past Santos goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

Santos doubled their lead again in the 49th minute after a goal from Darwin Quintero to put the match out of reach for Tijuana. Xolos attacker Fidel Martinez helped Tijuana mount a comeback in the 60th minute by slotting a left-footed shot into the lower corner of the Santos net. Tijuana continued to push numbers forward in the waning moments, but could not complete the comeback.

Edgar Castillo was the lone American starter as Joe Benny Corona and Herculez Gomez entered in the second half. American defender Greg Garza was left on the bench for the defeat while Paul Arriola did not make the gameday squad.

Tijuana are now 3-3-1 with 10 points in the 2014 Clausura tournament and have taken just four points out of 54 in their last 18 road games. The LA Galaxy face Club Tijuana in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals in March.

FRESNO, Calif. -- Gyasi Zardes made a statement on Saturday with his stunning goal to seal the Central California Cup -- he's steadily becoming the dangerous striker that was among 2013's most highly-touted prospects.

FRESNO, Calif. – Following the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena offered his thoughts on the club’s Central California Cup victory.

View them below.

(On his general thoughts from the victory…)

ARENA: “I think that it was another good step forward in our preseason. Obviously, we had a chance to play most of our first team players for 60 minutes which is good. Both teams are missing a few key players, but I think that it is good progression for us and that was the main objective for us. I think that the group that played in the first half did very good.”

(On Gyasi Zardes’ play…)

ARENA: “He played well. Fabulous goal. I think the entire evening was very good. We’re going to be playing him this year both at forward and in midfield.”

(On Samuel’s play…)

ARENA: “I think that this was the best that Samuel has played for us. He’s still getting adjusted to Major League Soccer, which is a different style and a different culture. It’ll take a bit of time.”

(On anything that he didn't like...)

ARENA: “I thought that our second group was a little bit sloppy in those last 30 minutes. That certainly could have been better.”

Below are a series of links, notes, matchups to watch and even a projected Galaxy lineup.

LINKS AND NOTES

*Saturday's Central California Cup is receiving a lot of publicity in Fresno almost 10,000 tickets sold for the match. Even the local mayor of Fresno is getting into the act, declaring Saturday "MLS Day" in the city.

*Robbie Keane is not expected to travel with the team to Fresno as he continues to return from achillies surgery. The Irishman trained with LA Galaxy II and told reporters earlier this week that he's aiming to return for either LA's closed-door scrimmage against UCLA or the "White vs. Blue Game" on Saturday against Galaxy II.

*With just two preseason games remaining after Saturday, keep an eye on right back trialists Matheau Hall, Dan Gargan and James Riley as they fight for a spot on LA's 2014 roster.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Omar Gonzalez vs. Steven Lenhart

Always the most exciting battle when these two teams tussle, due to their contentious battle in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs, expect another physical clash between the cagey Quakes striker and the physical center back. Even though the match is a preseason contest, look for a few hard fouls on both sides as Lenhart looks to test Gonzalez.

Rob Friend vs. Victor Bernardez

Friend has been by far the most impressive Galaxy attacker this preseason, but he'll have his hands full when he seeks to break through the equally burly Victor Bernardez. Look for Friend and fellow strike partner Samuel to lure the Quakes defense out of position and create space for the likes Landon Donovan and Stefan Ishizaki.

Marcelo Sarvas vs. Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi

For two teams that have had a number of intense battles over the last two years, Pierazzi will be a relatively unknown quantity for the Galaxy on Saturday. A central midfielder who will look to distruibte the ball up field, expect the industrious Sarvas to pressure the Frenchman early and distrupt the Quakes passing lanes.

Veteran play-by-play man Joe Tutino, who has covered the Galaxy since 1997, will make his return to the television booth alongside color commentator and fellow LA legend Cobi Jones for the station's 21 televised matches this season. Tutino served as the radio “voice” of the Galaxy from 2003 to 2013 and held both television and radio play-by-play spots from 1999 to 2002. During the team’s inaugural season, Tutino served as the public address announcer at the Rose Bowl. They will be joined by sideline reporter Kelli Tennant who held the position during the 2013 season.

“It’s a nice experience for me and I look forward to bring what I can with my experience. I think that we can optimistic because the staff is interesting and the team is very good as well,” said Courtois who also operates his own soccer academy called the French Soccer Institute. “Curt Onalfo’s resume speaks for itself and I’m glad that I get the chance to work with him. For me, it’s a really it’s a great experience and I hope that I can learn as much as I can on and off the field.”

And as he gains experience with Galaxy II, Courtois hopes that his time as a player-coach will only help him when he decides to focus on coaching full time.

“[Head coaching] is the goal, so I have to learn from the best and the most experience,” added Courtois. “This is the best place to be right now.”

In the latest installment of LAGalaxy.com's "Road to Morocco" series, we look at Club Tijuana and the LA Galaxy's role in San Diego soccer culture, and the "battle" that exists between the two clubs for domination of the area.

During the piece, former LA Galaxy forward Herculez Gomez (a former member of the San Diego Sockers), former Galaxy Academy attacker and San Diego native Paul Arriola, and Galaxy Technical Director and San Diego native Jovan Kirovski chime in.

MEXICO CITY – Prior to their match against Liga MX side Pumas UNAM on Tuesday, the LA Galaxy received a rare treat -- a visit from the United States Ambassador to Mexico Earl Anthony Wayne.

Wayne was presented a team-autographed jersey by U.S. international Landon Donovan – one of Hayes’ favorite athletes – and took in the match as the Galaxy fell 2-1 to UNAM at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario. The gesture was a thank you of sorts from the Galaxy as Wayne and his office provide vital assistance whenever American teams—be they the Galaxy or the U.S. National Team—travel to Mexico.

“In general, things go very smoothly. But once in a while, there is a visa problem or a passport gets lost and then we are available to help," Wayne told LA Galaxy Insider. "Sometimes there are questions about security and our security office is ready to help when American teams are here—basically to facilitate if there is a need for facilitation. Fortunately, as the Mexicans say ‘mi casa es su casa’ (my house is your house) so the attitude is very warm and receiving.”

The game of soccer is not a mystery for Wayne who was a former defender –he describes himself as being ‘not too fast but having a good leg’ –in his youth while also serving as a coach on his children’s soccer teams.

Although the ambassador’s work is to further the intricately complicated relationship between the United States and Mexico, Wayne admits that one of his favorite moments of the past year was when the two CONCACAF rivals faced off.

“It’s pretty exciting. There’s a lot of emotion in the stadium but not too many people cheering for the U.S. at the Azteca. Generally though, it’s a way to bring people together,” said Wayne. “For the last meeting between the two teams, we brought young people together in a city library. It was simply great fun. Like I said, sports cross borders and they teach valuable lessons like sportsmanship and leadership.”